These STEM modules can be found on a dedicated ULiS microsite at: http://tinyurl.com/ULiSKs3. They can help teachers to broaden and enrich their delivery of the KS3 curriculum. The material can be used flexibly, as a series of lessons, the basis for extended project work or exciting and engaging one-off study days.

Teachers directly involved in the ULiS project reported:

improved subject knowledge, either in the breadth of their understanding or the depth of their existing knowledge

more confidence in areas related to pedagogy and practice

they were better able identify and deal with pupil misconceptions related to subject knowledge

Pupils studying the ULiS modules as part of the project made more progress than their non-ULiS peers in the same subjects. Two-thirds of pupils in the ULiS groups made expected or more than expected progress, compared with 53% of students across all the control groups.

Success factors include:

• pupils were stretched more by the challenging unit content and more complex ideas

• pupils were encouraged to think more critically and be more analytical

• pupils were more engaged with the unit content because it was more current and more relevant

• the unit had provided students with ‘threshold concepts’

• the unit had been more discursive and engaging

• the unit had moved at pace and been more challenging.

Across the two years of the programme, the teachers stated that their pupils had enjoyed and engaged positively with the ULiS units. Factors that contributed to pupils’ engagement with the unit include: